It was named by the infamous explorer Captain John Smith after the Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, then subsequently renamed by King Charles I of England after himself. As Boston grew, the mighty Charles River proved a vital force behind its expansion, and its long and winding history a reflection of the city’s own.

Under pressure to avoid using Southern California’s endangered groundwater supply, Nestlé has announced plans to convert a Modesto milk factory into a “zero water” facility capable of extracting water from the materials it manufactures and reusing it for industrial processes.

No one enjoys being compelled to do things, especially when it dips into their wallet. For many in the industrial manufacturing and food processing sectors this is exactly what wastewater management is to them — a compulsory, bottomless money pit dug by regulatory bodies, seemingly just to make things difficult for business owners.